TOWN CRIER THE OFFICIAL PARISH OF ST HELIER MAGAZINE July 2020 In partnership with the WELCOME WelcomeTO to the July issue of theWN St this year a few of us made the trip overCRIER Helier Town Crier, the second to be to the Hermitage at Elizabeth Castle to produced in partnership with the Jersey lay a wreath in memory of the Island’s EveningTHE Post. As well OFFICIAL as the usual news patronPARISH saint. Other events OF usually ST HELIER MAGAZINE and information parishioners expect organised by our St Helier – Funchal to find in their monthly magazine, Twinning Committee have also had to we have included inside a feature on be skipped, with the Portuguese Food our annual visits to Normandy in the Festival towards the end of the summer company of the Island’s D-Day veterans. being something that thousands of Unfortunately, this year’s visit had to be people will be sorry to miss. But with cancelled due to the ongoing problems the requirement for physical distancing created by the pandemic. Indeed, the remaining in place and the need for us to majority of our usual programme of avoid large crowds, these are sacrifices events has had to be missed this year, which have to be made in order to keep including the St Helier Street Party, parishioners as safe as possible. As well instituted 7 years ago by the late Deputy as enjoying our memories of last year’s Richard Rondel, and the annual St Helier festivals in St Helier we can all look Day pilgrimageTO – although on 16thWN July forward to their return in future years.CRIER THE OFFICIAL PARISH OF ST HELIER MAGAZINESt Helier Procureur’s bright idea Peter Pearce, one of the Parish’s two Procureurs du Bien Public, recently suggested that the Government of Jersey should help Islanders by agreeing to freeze the Island Wide Rate (IWR) for the coming year. The IWR is the component of the rates bill which goes towards the support of welfare, a responsibility which was transferred from the Parishes to the States of Jersey in 2008. This part of the rates bill usually rises by the cost of living each year, but Mr Pearce thought that given the squeeze on everyone’s finances due to the pandemic it would be appropriate for the Treasury Minister to be requested for a freeze TOWN CRIERin the IWR. The Constables’ Committee agreed with the suggestion and a letter was duly sent Parish Rates Assembly news to the Treasury Minister, with the proposal being THE OFFICIAL PARISH OF ST HELIER MAGAZINEdebated and approved by the States Assembly The annual Rates Assembly is the most important and keenly awaited Parish Assembly in the last week. Well done, Monsieur le Procureur! parochial calendar, as this is when the Island’s ratepayers have the opportunity to discuss the past year’s Parish accounts, as well as deciding how much they will pay in Parish rates in the year ahead. St Helier has succeeded in freezing the Parish rate for the last 7 years and hopes to do so again this year, in spite of the financial challenges created by the pandemic. Neil Macdonald, Finance Director for the Parish of St Helier, explains what’s happening at this year’s Rates Assembly on Wednesday 29th July in the Town Hall’s Assembly Room: ‘As well as a presentation on the Parish’s accounts good cost control over our expenditure categories and proposed budget for the coming year, the resulting in an overall solid performance which has Connétable and Jason Turner, our CEO, will also be allowed the Parish to enhance our rates reserve, thus presenting our strategic plan for discussion. This ensuring that we have had sufficient financial reserves plan sets out our aims and objectives to 2022. In my to mitigate the financial impact of Covid-19 on the presentation, I will be covering the results for the long-term financial stability of the Parish.’ financial year where we have seen a record year of rates collection and some strong results across our The Parish’s accounts for the last financial year and the non-rates income streams. It is positive to report that estimates (budget) for the year ahead are available from Westmount Day Nursery has produced a very good Customer Services in the Town Hall, or via the Parish result in challenging conditions, which would have website, from 15th July. Parishioners who have any resulted in a positive financial contribution to the queries about the accounts are invited to contact Neil Parish in normal circumstances. We have also seen at [email protected] or 811829. TOWN HALL: PO Box 50, St Helier, Jersey, JE4 8PA Opening Hours: 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday Phone: 01534 811811 Email: [email protected] www.sthelier.je 02 | | July 2020 July 2020 | | 03 In Normandy with our veterans Had it not been for the pandemic, the Parish-organised trip to the landing beaches, museums, and cemeteries of Normandy’s D-Day campaign would have been taking place this weekend. Instead the Town Crier recalls some of the previous occasions in what has become an annual visit. For many years now, the Parish of St Helier has assisted the Normandy Veterans Association in providing the opportunity for veterans, their families and friends, and any Islanders interested in the D-Day campaign to visit key sites over a long weekend in June or July. Sadly, a lot of Jersey’s NVA veterans have now passed away but this year the visit, due to leave Jersey on Friday 17th July, would have included Harry Fenn and Billy Reynolds, approximately two dozen Islanders, and the tour would have been interpreted by local historian, Ian Ronayne. Simon Crowcroft, the Constable of St Helier, whose staff at the Town Hall has organised the visits, says, ‘The absence of former veterans is felt keenly but we still have a fulfilling as well as an enjoyable weekend together. We make sure that a cross is placed on the grave of a particular fallen soldier in Bénouville, near Pegasus Bridge, which is something which the late Clive Kemp always wished to do. The Jersey veterans are always feted by the French and other passers-by, and enjoy telling their stories. The Parish has twice arranged for the Band of the Island of Jersey to accompany the visit. ‘Crossing Pegasus Bridge behind our veterans and the Island Band has been one of the most moving ceremonies I have taken part in,’ says the Constable. 04 | | July 2020 July 2020 | | 05 OUR OUR CONSTABLE’S COMMENT PARISH NEWS St Helier’s Town Centre Manager Parish finances in good shape PARISH MATTERS St Helier maintains Customer Services has her work cut out It is a particular pleasure for kept the Parish Rate the Always expect the unexpected: St Helier has consistently out-performed name brand and local stores. From my me to invite parishioners to same - a remarkable feat during lockdown towns of comparable size in the U.K. and perspective, the focus right now is working the annual Rates Assembly given the fact that over Jacqueline Jolley, St Helier’s Throughout the lockdown period, the small permits, change of details updates, mainland Europe, weathering previous on what we can do to make town better this year, as the meeting the same period there will but dedicated group of six that make up our electoral registration, dog permits and the storms such as the recession with a far and safer, so that people do come back on Wednesday 29th July in have been a cost of living Customer Services Team continued to work new parking permits for carer’s and home lower rate of shop closures and recording and we don’t see any further closures. We the Town Hall will give me (including staff wages) rise Community Visitor, describes away behind the scenes. delivery drivers - were completed within a higher footfall in our town centre have an opportunity to understand what of over 18%. 24-hour turnaround for the vast majority of the opportunity to express All the usual services, such as the processing of than most other shopping and dining the Island needs from retailers and what my sincere thanks to the her role in the Parish the lockdown period. In doing their valued driving licences, electoral registration for Parish destinations. And even during the current we need to provide to bring tourism back, According to Jacqui, ‘Always team at the Parish of St work, our staff have been Assemblies as well as the myriad of general The Customer Services Team returned to the pandemic there have been new shoots when it is safe to do so.’ expect the unexpected’ should be Helier whose hard work and tremendously supported enquiries were maintained. Town Hall offices a few weeks ago, although of growth with new businesses getting the motto of our Parish Community The Town Centre Manager has been commitment is what enables by our helpers, especially Government guidelines are of course being ready to trade once the Island’s safe exit The Team also oversaw new tasks specific working particularly hard to assist the the Parish to present a Visitor, and this couldn’t be more followed meticulously. Accordingly, our strategy is sufficiently far advanced. Even the Honorary Police, who to the pandemic, which involved maintaining many hospitality outlets that wish to remarkable set of accounts appropriate since March. customers are strongly advised to submit so it would be naïve to think that St Helier make such an important and reporting the details of 100 isolated expand their al fresco areas in order to and estimates.